All four Indian chess players in the FIDE Women’s World Cup will battle it out in high-stakes tiebreak rounds on Friday, following Divya Deshmukh’s loss in Game 2 against China’s Zhu Jiner.
India’s Chess Stars Face Tiebreak Challenge
Divya Deshmukh, after an impressive win against World No. 6 Zhu Jiner in Game 1, couldn’t clinch Game 2 while playing with black pieces. This result means her fate, along with three other Indian players, now hinges on the rapid-fire tiebreak matches.
Veteran Koneru Humpy is set to face Alexandra Kosteniuk, who now represents Switzerland. Harika Dronavalli will take on Russia’s Kateryna Lagno, and Vaishali Rameshbabu is preparing for a showdown with Kazakhstan’s Kamalidenova Meruert. While four quarter-finalists have already been decided, these four matchups will determine the remaining spots.
Understanding the Tiebreak Format
The FIDE Women’s World Cup features a head-to-head elimination format. Players compete in two classical games, each playing once with white and black pieces. If these two games don’t produce a clear winner, the competition moves to tiebreaks.
Tiebreaks involve a series of games with progressively shorter time controls, designed to quickly determine a winner. It begins with two games in the 15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move (15+10) format. If still tied, they play two more games at 10 minutes plus 10 seconds (10+10).
Should the deadlock persist, the time further reduces to five minutes plus three seconds (5+3). The ultimate decider, if needed, is a “sudden death” single game: a rapid three minutes plus two seconds (3+2) match, played until one player emerges victorious.
Who Has Qualified So Far?
Three players from China – Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, and Song Yuxin – have already secured their places in the quarter-finals. They are joined by Georgia’s Nana Dzagnidze, who also advanced.
The Stakes for Players
Beyond the prestige of the FIDE Women’s World Cup, there’s a significant prize for the top performers. The three highest finishers in the tournament will earn a coveted spot in next year’s Women’s Candidates tournament. This is a critical step, as the winner of the Candidates tournament earns the right to challenge the reigning women’s world champion for the ultimate title.
- All four Indian players at the FIDE Women’s World Cup are headed to tiebreak rounds.
- Divya Deshmukh’s Game 2 loss to Zhu Jiner forced her into a tiebreak battle.
- The tiebreak format involves increasingly faster time controls until a winner emerges.
- The top three finishers secure a spot in the Women’s Candidates tournament.
The chess world eagerly awaits Friday’s thrilling tiebreak battles to see who advances further in this prestigious tournament.
